Thursday, June 9, 2016

Confessions of Erotic Writers Part 1: The Questions You're Afraid to Ask

We are exposed to sex through the media, fine art, and literature, making sex a source of pleasure, pain, liberation, and form of expression as far back as documented history. But what about the people creating the materials we're exposed to? Where do they fit in? How does creating sex effect them?

I've recently interviewed multiple authors (whose info you can find at the bottom) who place themselves within the categories of those who write erotica, smut, or porn. Definition of these categories is irrelevant; the idea is that explicit sex scenes are an element of their work. I've asked them a series of questions that are typically not inquired about due to societal restraint and the inability to broach the topics the world tells us we should be ashamed of. But there's no shame here, only the god's honest truth.

"We live in a world of repressed emotions and desires. The repression fuels temptation, although, most people never yield to it. I simply ask the question "what if...?" and voila! A sex scene." --Blue Spectrum

"It depends on what I'm writing. The funtanari stuff is pure impossible fantasy sex that turns me on. The DD/lg stuff is partly based on my own life." --Bryce Calderwood

"Several of my ideas come from my own experiences, just embellished a bit. Thought sometimes it's a matter of fantasies--whether my own or people that have confided in me. I take them and run."--Chenille Moon

"[They come from] my fantasies usually, although some are based on real life happenings."--Kassandra Wylde

"Mostly [from] what I find hot or attractive in some way. I watch a lot of porn when I'm bored (not for research or personal fun--I'm just bored and I need some noise on in the background), so sometimes I find inspiration there, but that's pretty rare."--Alana Melos

"If I’m creating a sex scene from already-existing characters, then the scene comes from the characters themselves and the situation that they’re in.Other times I start off with a specific sex scene in mind, like a man and a woman having sex on a huge pile of money. Then I work backward, starting with the original image/vision/fantasy, and figuring out who the people are, where the money came from, and so forth. This kind of image can come from so many places that I can’t list them all: dreams, daydreams, a movie or book scene where I want to make my own variation, or finding a new or interesting sexual position (or emotional reaction, or other element) in a sex manual or article."--Richard Bacula

"Two places – whatever serves the story, but also from my own hottest fantasies. For my last book, the idea for the story was created out of my own dirtiest, naughtiest fantasies and what gets me hot. One reason [was because] my husband was like, "All right hon, you have to write under a pseudonym. That’s too dirty and people at my work know I’m your husband!'"--Elizabeth Anastasia

"[Some ideas come from porn] then I adapt them to fit the particular scene that I am writing. [Also from books] I try listen or read the scene carefully and see where it will end."--Anonymous

"My ideas come from the natural progression of a story, adding the type of scenes that organically grow from the personalities/experiences of my characters. Although sometimes I begin a story with the intent to write a specific type of sex scene that I've never written about before."--Angora Shade

What state of mind do you need to be in to write your standard of a "good sex scene"?

"I find that syncing my emotions with that of the POV character in the scene make the words flow easily, and the scene turns out pretty good. Kind of like method acting but with an oomph!" --Blue Spectrum

"I just need to have the time to do it without being interrupted."-- Bryce Calderwood

"For me, it's the getting started part. If I can just get started with a story, I generally get so into it that my mind is in the story deep enough to be turned on to the point that the proverbial juices can pull a good sex scene out." -- Chenille Moon

"I have to be sex-starved, unfortunately. Otherwise the scenes won't come (excuse the pun)."--Kassandra Wylde

"[My state of mind is] that I need to write and have a quota to fill per day. There's no sexy state of mind, but I know I'm writing a good scene if I keep thinking sexy thoughts. Initially though? [It's] work time." --Alana Melos

"Mostly it’s the same frame of mind that I need to have in order to write anything: I need to be well-rested and clear-headed as a rule, and I need to have some kind of inspiration. Sometimes it helps me to be a bit aroused in order to write a sex scene, but there’s a middle-ground where I’m hungry enough to find the scene interesting, but not so pent up that my own lust is a distraction from my work."--Richard Bacula

"Relaxed - not particularly after just watching a sex scene; that could lead to being lazy and just copying what was on screen."--Anonymous

"Usually I just start writing and that gets me in the mood. I do turn on good music though." --Elizabeth Anastasia

"I have to be calm and able to visualize what I what to happen. This means no distractions (mental or physical). If I can't see the actions and details inside my head, I'm unable to write them."--Angora Shade

Sex writing usually involves research. How far have you taken your research in pursuit of your craft?

"I'd probably be disowned by my family if they ever peeked at my browser history. There are a ton of studies on human sexuality out there and it is hard to sift through the lot to find proper studies. I use the data from these studies to debunk my own prejudices. The hardest thing for me was coming to terms with consensual consanguineous relationships. Just too many 'con's." --Blue Spectrum

"I've interviewed women about what they feel during sex, and I've researched all kinds of crazy things: the late 40's (fashion, cars, guns, technology), myths/apocrypha concerning angels/demons; all kinds of stuff about vampires and blood and how what we feel changes as we lose it; octopuses, BDSM practices, abandoned subway stations...a majorly weird and eclectic list for sure." --Bryce Calderwood

"I often lean towards BDSM-swinger lifestyle-type writing. My research has involved living some of the lifestyles with my spouse in addition to "researching" videos and other erotica to gain perspective." --Chenille Moon

"I write what I know, so I haven't done too much research beyond my own experiences."--Kassandra Wylde

"[I] mostly just research particular positions or BDSM or weird off-niche kinks. I spent an hour or so just last night on macro and microphilia, which is the fantasy of either being ravished by a giant woman, or ravishing a lady who had been shrunk."--Alana Melos

"I already have my own library of books on human sexuality, as well as a respectable collection of various kinds of pornography. A lot of research can be done simply by browsing through my collections, or by searching for information online. Other information needs to be acquired through more direct, physical means, and I have certain volunteers that assist me in that regard.

The farthest I’ve personally gone is expanding the scope of my BDSM experiences, which is not something that I’m naturally into. There are simply certain sensations and physical reactions that should be experienced from one or both ends before one attempts to describe them being carried out on the page. In order to understand BDSM scenes well enough to describe them in detail, it helped a great deal for me to expand my own understanding of the physical and emotional effects giving and receiving pain, as well as of dominating and submitting."--Richard Bacula

"Well, I read a ton, obviously :) I definitely research the more elaborate sides to kink I explore in my writing to make sure I’m doing it justice, including reading real life accounts and watching…er…videos. All in the name of research, of course ;) "--Elizabeth Anastasia

"I'm currently doing a story on a bit of light bdsm, and have spoken to a few practitioners and a dom (anonymously) and have asked them the needed questions."--Anonymous

"I believe that research is essential to not only understand a concept, but to be able to convey a concept to others well. Readers will call "foul" when the details aren't right. No one would believe a description of an orgasm by a person who's never had one. I've taken my research as far as having my partner pee on me in order to try to understand the allure of pee in sexual situations. Turn out that pee is not my fetish, but the experience helped me to more accurately describe the sound and feel of pee within a scene that called for it."--Angora Shade

Are you turned on by your own sex scenes?

"I don't usually write something that doesn't do it for me, but there are times when the story demands something that I don't agree with or find arousing, like doing it in the biotech lab. Disinfectants are not sexy! Neither are deadly bacteria!"-- Blue Spectrum

"Yes"--Bryce Calderwood

"Absolutely! If I can't get turned on while writing/reading my own story, then I'm doing something wrong!" --Chenille Moon

"Oh yes. A thousand times, yes!"--Kassandra Wylde

"Yup. A few of them are recurring fantasies. The one in "The Devil and Delilah" still is my favorite to this day. I think it might always be." --Alana Melos

"Yes, sometimes, to a degree. Early on in my erotica-writing endeavors, I was very much aroused by what I was writing. The more titles and pages that I get under my belt (so to speak), the less intensely I’m affected on a sexual level by what I write, and the more my appreciation of written erotica (my own or the work of others) tends to be an aesthetic and mechanical pleasure derived from the writing itself."--Richard Bacula

"Yes, because the emotional investment I put into them is what is also important."--Anonymous

"A scene is so much better when I am turned on. If what I've written doesn't come across as sexy to me in some way, it probably won't to my readers either, which is why I typically scrap the ones that don't give me tingles at bare minimum."--Angora Shade

Do you act out any/Have you acted out any of your scenes in order to write a sex scene more effectively?

"Maybe." --Blue Spectrum

"It's more the other way around. Sex with my current partner inspires my sex scenes."--Bryce Calderwood

"Oh yes! In experiencing the act itself, I can more fully understand what my character is feeling. For example, my submissive characters: the right mindset needs to be had when expressing that personality. Plus, writing turns me on to the point that I feel like I need to experience what I've just written about." --Chenille Moon

"Not intentionally. I know other authors might be like "Oh, teehee I'm writing about hot sex and going to act it out with my SO." Not me. Not that I'm opposed to it, but it's a job. I treat it like a job. In the beginning, when I wrote, I was so turned on all the time it was ridiculous. About two months of writing erotica changed that. Now words are words. I think in the long run, this is good. I wouldn't want to be disappointed if I or my husband couldn't perform as I had envisioned in any particular sex scene, and thus I can keep my person life separate from my professional." --Alana Melos

"Yes, although I write a lot of stuff involving fantastical creatures, non-humans, and people with superhuman powers. When going into the mechanics of a scene, sometimes a situation becomes complicated enough that it helps to work with real people in order to make sure that everything and everyone can work as described."--Richard Bacula

"I wouldn’t say I’ve staged any exactly, but I’ve definitely been writing a scene, then jumped on my husband as soon as he gets home. We watch porn together and I’ll ask to watch scenes that are more risqué like what I’m writing to get us in the mood, and might talk dirtier to him/request some spanking."--Elizabeth Anastasia

"Not yet - Might seem strange, but my partner is not a very lusty/libidinous person."--Anonymous

"I've never acted out a sex scene that I've written exactly as I have written it. But I have experimented with a handful of elements that are also included in my writing, like the Gummy Bear Game."--Angora Shade How would you describe your sex life before and after you started writing erotica?

"Growing up in a pretty conservative society, I tended to repress my sexuality and there was a lot of guilt whenever I transgressed. It was absolutely depressing at times. Now, though, I have made the effort to unburden myself of the guilt and enjoy being human. Writing erotica has helped me address my fears and prejudices and has forced me to look at human sexuality from different aspects without being dismissive or judgmental. Yes, I'm talking about necrophilia vampire sex.﻿" --Blue Spectrum

"Before I started there wasn't much of [a sex life] as I was single, but after I started, I met my parter."--Bryce Calderwood

"While my sex life was already in "decent" condition, I can say that there was definitely an increase [in sex] as well as heightened pleasure after I started writing. I stopped writing for a bit and noticed a dramatic different [in my sex life]. To put it bluntly, I've been the horniest I've ever been in recent years."--Chenille Moon

"I think writing smut facilitates great sex in a lot of different ways. Giving yourself the freedom to express your thoughts and fantasies is very positive. For me, it also amps up my hormones and puts me in the mood. My husband always know when I've been writing a good scene since he benefits from it. Before writing smut, thing were definitely quieter in the bedroom."--Kassandra Wylde

"[My sex life is] exactly the same. Again, it's a job. It may be unsexy to hear it, but I treat what I write seriously. I want it to be hot and sexy, but being distracted why writing is actually very bad for writing, or at least for me."--Alana Melos

"It was good before, and it’s good now. One of the reasons why I got into erotica in the first place is that sex has always been a rather important part of my life, and I had already invested a large amount of time and effort researching and exploring it in a variety of ways. It’s easier to write about things that you already know and understand than it is to research whole new bodies of knowledge. Granted, my less mundane stories do include things that I never experienced first-hand, things that are physically impossible due to the annoying lack of magic, supernatural creatures, and super-powers in our own world, but even my more unusual stories involve a lot of extrapolation based on my body of real-world knowledge."--Richard Bacula

"My sex life definitely got hotter/less inhibited after I started reading erotica. Writing erotica is a newer venture, but I think it's just the next step. Although I do think writing erotica is helping me get more vocal in my dirty talk in a way I was just too embarrassed about before. It’s thrilling to find fresh things in the bedroom after being married for over a decade, ya know? I might look like a wholesome mom on the outside, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be a slut in the bedroom."--Elizabeth Anastasia

"My sex life wasn't awful before I started writing sex scenes, but it's certainly improved tremendously. I think that thinking and writing about sex on a regular basis is healthy. Doing so gives me a larger push to satisfy my natural human curiosity through exploration of my body and partner."--Angora Shade